Frank and Debbie Chance Jordan of Rock Hill, S.C., formerly of Richmond County, received their doctor of education degrees in educational leadership on Friday, May 8, 2009, during South Carolina State University’s spring commencement ceremony.
Earning their doctorates together was a lifelong dream.
Debbie is the daughter of Audrey Chance of Rockingham and J.W. Chance Jr. of Maxton. Frank is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jordan of Columbia, S.C.
Both Debbie and Frank are 1974 graduates of Richmond Senior High School.
The husband and wife team were high school sweethearts and took their educational journey together, first attending the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. They went on to obtain their master’s degrees from Columbia College.
They learned about S.C. State’s doctoral program through their local school district office, which informed them that the program would soon become available in Rock Hill.
Although they were able to complete many of their doctoral courses in their hometown and online, the Jordans found themselves traveling to Orangeburg during the summer to take weekend courses and to Greenville one night during the week for two semesters. They completed the doctoral program in four years.
The Jordans agree that a lot of sacrifices were made.
“We missed many family functions because we were always involved with studying and writing papers, however it’s been a very rewarding experience,” said Debbie.
Frank credits the grace of God for part of their success. “We believed that He would see us through and He did,” said Frank.
Frank teaches remedial reading. He is developing a new program that will help local elementary and middle school students made academic and social transitions to the next grade levels. Students in the program will be connected to a mentor who will follow the students through middle and high school to provide long-term assistance.
Frank also serves as assistant pastor of New Life Assemblies of God in Tega Cay.
Debbie teaches third grade at Old Pointe Elementary School in Rock Hill. She trains education majors at Winthrop University by offering lesson plan assistance and discussing young children’s behavior.
Twice, Debbie has been named Teacher of the Year. Also, she has been nationally board certified in the area of Early Child Generalist.
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